• Since the time the coronavirus pandemic broke loose, researchers have been emphasizing the importance of face masks in communities for protection against the virus and to curtail its spread.
• As the number of types of face masks used increased, it prompted a study to know the efficacy of each of these masks.

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A Duke study did exactly that and found that wearing a neck gaiter is worse than no mask.

Face coverings and the varied types

Face masks are the only currently available means to stop the spread of the virus within communities.

In July 2020, Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention admitted:

“We are not defenseless against covid-19,”

“Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting.”

Now as face mask use is increasing in the USA, people want to know the efficacy of each type of mask available in the market and which they should buy. A Duke study has addressed these queries.

Also, read Gold Face Masks: cost, appropriateness, effectiveness, and capacity to protect!!!

The Duke Study and role of neck gaiter

There is a newly published Duke study that analyzed the effectiveness of around 14 different types of face masks by using a simple method.

Their study revealed that some easily accessible cotton cloth masks are equally effective as standard surgical masks.

They also stated that neck gaiters made of thin, stretchy material are worse than not wearing a face mask. Warren S. Warren, a professor of physics, chemistry, radiology, and biomedical engineering at Duke is one of the co-authors of this study.

He said:

“You can really see the mask is doing something,”

“There’s a lot of controversy and people say, ‘Well, masks don’t do anything.’ Well, the answer is some don’t, but most do.”

When the need to assess the efficacy of face masks arose, Martin Fischer, a chemist, and physicist stepped in.

The method of assessing the face mask effectiveness

Martin used a simple contraption that harnesses the power of a laser and a cell phone camera. The laser can be purchased online for less than $ 200.

The created device helped the team track every individual particle that was released from the person’s mouth during talking. The other part of this setup was a box of cardboard and a lens.

Martin revealed:

“It’s very straightforward, doesn’t take much resources,”

“Any research lab has these things lying around.”

Speakers said the same phrase without a face mask and then wore a particular face mask into the box. The particles passed through the light created by the laser and hit the lens giving rise to visible flashes which were captured and also recorded on the camera.

Warren said:

“Even very small particles can do this kind of [light] scattering,” 

“We were able to use the scattering, and then tracking individual particles from frame to frame in the movie, to actually count the number of particles that got emitted.”

A well-fitted N95 mask was the best. A breathable neck gaiter used by runners was the worse. Warren remarked:

“These neck gaiters are extremely common in a lot of places because they’re very convenient to wear. But the exact reason why they’re so convenient, which is that they don’t restrict air, is the reason why they’re not doing much of a job helping people.”